Bowlby's Theory of Attachment

• EVOLUTIONARY THEORY

  • the tendency to form attachments is innate (biological drive)
• Social Releasers

  Monotropy

  Adaptive Advantage

  Good quality care

  Internal working model

  Critical period
• ATTACHMENT IS ADAPTIVE AND INNATE

  • attachment is a behaviour, that evolved because of its survival and reproductive value
  • children have an innate drive to become attached to a caregiver because of its long-term benefits
  • caregiver will feed and protect the child and increase survival chances
• MONOTROPIC ATTACHMENT THEORY

  • Bowlby suggests we have one special attachment
  • often the biological mother
  • secondary attachment provides a safety net and are important for psychological and social development
• LAW OF CONTINUITY= when care is constant and predictable, attachment quality is better
• LAW OF ACCUMULATED SEPARATION= effect of every separation from mother adds up
• SOCIAL RELEASERS

  • innate mechanisms
  • elicit caregiving
• CRITICAL AND SENSITIVE PERIOD

  • limited window for attachments
  • development takes place more rapidly during the CP
  • CP= 12 months
  • 2nd quarter of 1st year, when infants are most sensitive to the development of attachments
  • SP= up to 3 years
• INTERNAL WORKING MODEL

  • primary attachment figure= where they get the template from
  • insight into the caregiver's behaviour
  • template for future relationships
• SECURE BASE

  • safe haven to return to when threatened
  • secure attachment= independence
• CONTINUITY HYPOTHESIS= continuous quality care

  • strong attachment in infancy= socially and emotionally competent later
  • weak attachment in infancy= social and emotional difficulties later